Self watering bottle planter insert

ABSTRACT

A self watering bottle planter insert allows a regular bottle to be transformed into a hydroponic planter. The self watering bottle planter insert is insertable into a bottle and removes the need for a separate source of nutrients. The planter uses composite media with an enriched substrate layered beneath a more standard hydroponic growth media to add nutrients to the water for the life cycle of the plant. Also provided is a substrate assembly for use in a bottle planter assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/892,807, filed Feb. 9, 2018, which claims priority to provisionalapplication No. 62/457,072 filed on Feb. 9, 2017, the contents of eachof which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self watering bottle planter insertthat allows a regular bottle to be transformed into a hydroponicplanter. The self watering bottle planter is insertable into a bottleand removes the need for a separate source of nutrients. The planteruses composite media with an enriched substrate layered beneath a morestandard hydroponic growth media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common cause of plants dying is a lack of attention and watering.Plants kept in small pots with soil do not retain significant volumes ofwater, and often require watering at least once per day. For busy peoplethis constant maintenance requirement can be burdensome. A common methodof addressing the need for regular watering is to use the hydroponicmethod for growing plants. The hydroponic method or soil-less growth ofplants, comprises the cultivation of plants by placing the roots in anutrient solution or water rather than soil. In some instances a lightsoil or similar material (e.g. peat moss, coco coir, rock wool, or evensome man-made materials) are used to accommodate the seed and seedling,but as the plant matures its roots grow into the water.

A water tight container such as that described by U.S. Pat. No.6,918,207 will not only prevent water from leaking out of the container,but it will also prevent air from entering the container. The rootsystems of plants require oxygen to survive, and in an oxygen deprivedenvironment the plant will not flourish.

Existing hydroponic devices including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,207 and7,587,859 include a component that performs the common function ofholding the plant and/or plant substrate. In the case of U.S. Pat. No.6,918,207 this component is referred to as the “planter unit”, and inU.S. Pat. No. 7,587,859 “plant receiving depressions”. Holes in thebottom of both devices perform a similar function; allowing the entry orwater into the component such that it may be utilized by the roots ofthe plant. However, these components also lack an importantfunctionality—being the ability to allow the roots of the plant toextrude outside of the component. The roots of the plant are thereforeconstrained in a very small area, leading to a high likelihood of theplant becoming root-bound.

Existing hydroponic devices including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,207 and7,587,859 require containers or water reservoirs of specific dimensions.These are not common household items, and rather need to be ordered froma specialist manufacturer. This involves significant packaging,transport and wastage. When hydroponic system require the use of manyspecialized components, environmental benefits are compromised.

Existing hydroponic devices call for the use of a container or reservoirmade of glass, acrylic, plastic or other materials to hold the water ornutrient solution. Common embodiments of glass, acrylic and plastic areclear. Clear glass, acrylic or plastic allows the full spectrum of lightto pass through it to the water. Water containing even a small amount ofnutrients, as hydroponic water typically does, will grow algae. Thealgae which will grow in the water could be expected to turn the watergreen, and deplete the water of oxygen, having an adverse impact on thehealth of the plant.

U.S. Patent Publication No. US2005/0257424 discloses a hydroponic systemthat relies on the preparation of nutrient solution by adding liquid orpowdered nutrients to water.

U.S. Patent Publication No. US2016/0316640 discloses an evendistribution of nutrient in soil. U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,009 discloses aleach resistant nutrient mixture. Both of these discuss nutrientenriched plant growing substrates with a focus on soil based growing.

Hydroponic growth media is known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,803,803 disclosessmall tufts of mineral wool. U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,749 discloses soilmixture particles distributed throughout a body of spongy polymerfibers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,217 discloses a sterile, low water retentionlinear foam plastic. None of these hydroponic growth media are enrichedwith sufficient nutrients to support the entire life cycle of a plant.

One hydroponic technique is disclosed in the literature. Kratky, B. A.2009. Three Non-Circulating Hydroponic Methods for Growing Lettuce,Acta. Hort. 843:65-72. The Kratky method is generally known to be thesimplest of all hydroponic techniques. It involves the roots of a plantdangling in a body of water below. The plant roots suck up water andnutrients, keeping the plant alive. The Kratky method of hydroponics hasmany different form factors and potential reservoirs—including a pond,bucket, or specially made plastic reservoir. This system is commerciallyavailable at:https://www.modsprout.com/collections/herb-kits/products/garden-jar-three-pack-herb-essentialsandhttps://www.homedepot.com/p/Viagrow-Black-Bucket-Deep-Water-Culture-Hydroponic-System-V1DWC/203548975.This method has never used a bottle as a reservoir.

Previous hydroponic grow chambers form a water or air tight seal at themouth or opening of the vessel in which it resides, thereby preventingthe flow of oxygen to the roots of the plant.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to create a hydroponic planterthat is insertable into a bottle and which removes the need for separatesource nutrients as is typically required in hydroponic plantproduction. The planter uses composite media with an enriched substratelayered beneath a more standard hydroponic growth media. Water in thebottle provides a supply of water to the plant.

It is a further object of the present invention to create a hydroponicgrowth chamber that does not constrain the growth of the plant rootsdownward into the container. Vertical slits or apertures in the walls ofthe support frame of the invention allow the plant roots to extendfreely into the container. This is far less likely to result in theplant becoming root bound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of this invention is to provide an easy and low-maintenancemethod for keeping plants alive. The self watering bottle insert plantercan be used for growing a plant, such as herbs, vegetables, flowers orornamental plants, out of the top of a bottle which can be glass,plastic, or some other material. All that is required is water in thebottle. The nutrients in the bottle insert support the plant for thelife cycle of the plant.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a substrate enrichedwith nutrients within a support frame with an open framework of verticallegs. The use of this invention, when combined with a bottle filled withwater creates a highly favorable environment for growing plantshydroponically. The nutrients from the substrate leach into the waterproviding nutrients for the plant during its life cycle.

An embodiment of the invention is a bottle insert containing a plantsubstrate, where the insert is adapted to be inserted into a neck of abottle, for facilitating growth of a plant and plant roots. The bottleinsert includes a support frame with a top retainer ring, an openframework of vertical legs having upper frame segments and lower framesegments, and a base coupling terminal portions of the vertical legs.The plant substrate is encased in the open framework and adapted tosupport the plant root. The substrate defines a wick adapted tovertically draw up liquid from the bottle to the seed or plant. Thesupport frame is adapted to be inserted into the neck of the bottle andretained atop the bottle by the top retainer ring.

Embodiments of the invention also include a bottle insert forfacilitating the growth of plants comprising a support frame with a topretainer ring, an open framework of vertical legs having upper framesegments and lower frame segments, and a base coupling terminal portionsof the vertical legs. The substrate is encased in the open framework andadapted to support a plant root system. The substrate defines a wickadapted to vertically draw up liquid from a bottle container. There isat least one vertical aperture, wherein the apertures may becontinuously vertically open or the at least one vertical aperture mayhave periodic lateral support segments to assure vertical stability. Thesupport frame is inserted into a neck of a bottle and retained atop thebottle by the top retainer ring.

The invention may also include a bottle insert having a form factoradapted to fit within a bottle neck having an inner diameter no largerthan 22 mm and no smaller than 18 mm. The support frame may have alength no greater than 130 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the bottle insert.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the bottle insert from the perspective ofsection line A′ to A″.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the bottle insert.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottle insert.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the bottle insert from the perspectiveof section line B′ to B″.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the bottle insert.

FIG. 7 is a close up, cut away view of the upper portion of the bottleinsert in a bottle.

FIG. 8 is a top cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of theretainer ring from the perspective of section line C′ to C″.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the bottle insert placed in a bottle with afull water level.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the bottle insert placed in a bottle with amoderate water level.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the bottle insert placed in a bottle with alow water level.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be found inthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The description that follows is not intended to limit the scope,applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way; rather itis intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementingvarious embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, variouschanges may be made in the function and arrangement of the elementsdescribed in these embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention. It should be appreciated that the description herein may beadapted to be employed having different shape bases, covers, and insertportions and the like and still fall within the scope of the presentinvention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for thepurpose of illustration only and not of limitation.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the bottle insert invention. FIG. 2 showsthe bottle insert invention having been inserted into the neck of a winebottle (dashed lines 23). The wine bottle is partially filled withwater. The slots in the bottom of the insert tube are visible in FIG. 1and plant substrate 8 is shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, seeds, having initially been placed in the top region of thesubstrate, have formed seedlings 26 with a stem and leaves growingupward (toward light) and the roots 10 have extended down through thesubstrate and into the container below, where they are able to reach thewater or nutrient solution. As mentioned elsewhere in this application,alternative embodiments of this invention may not include a plastic tubewith slits, yet still perform the same function—being to support theplant substrate from falling into the container.

One preferred embodiment of the invention of self watering bottleplanter comprises: a plant substrate framework unit, wherein the plantsubstrate serves as both a medium to support the plant seed, seedlingand root, as well as performing a wicking function via capillary action.A plastic tube, with a flange at one end, serves the purpose of holdingthe substrate unit in place at the top, mouth or neck of the containeror bottle. When a seed or seedling is placed in the substrate, it iskept moist via the capillary action of the substrate itself. The plantsubstrate as its bottom end in communication with the water in thebottle. As the seedling grows, its roots extend downward through thesubstrate toward the water or nutrient solution below. The roots of thesmall plant will soon outgrow the substrate itself, and via the slits orchannels in the preferred embodiment are able to grow uninhibited intothe container.

At the same time as the roots are growing down into the bottlecontainer, the small seedling grows toward its light source (commonlyupward). Unlike U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,207, the invention does not form awater or air tight seal at the mouth or opening of the vessel in whichit resides, thereby allowing the flow of oxygen to the roots of theplant. Unlike U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,207 and 7,587,859 which also includea component that serves the function of supporting the plant andsubstrate, an important difference with the present invention is thatthe invention does not constrain the growth of the plant roots downwardinto the container. Vertical slits in the walls of the plastic tube oropen framework allow the plant roots to extend freely into thecontainer. This invention is far less likely to result in the plantbecoming root bound. Although the preferred embodiment includes aplastic tube open framework, with a flange or retaining ring at one end,the invention can be constructed as otherwise disclosed and explainedherein.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the self watering bottle planterinsert 7 comprises a support frame 1 with vertical legs 5 and lateralcross frame members forming a base 9. The legs 5 form an open framework.The framework can take many shapes, but preferably the open frameworkhas openwork along its length at different vertical locations therebypermitting the wicking action to draw up water into the plant substrateand also permitting root growth outboard of the openwork of the openframework and into the adjacent bottle region. The open framework mayhave vertical slots shown in the drawings or may have many apertures toestablish the wicking action and permitting outboard root growth. InFIG. 1, the support frame 1 has an upper closed frame segment 2 and alower open segment 4. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in alternateembodiments, both frame segments 4 and 33 define openwork. The openworkmay be rectangular, square, round or oval, as needed. The frameworksupports and generally encases plant substrate 8 therein, that is,inside the framework. The substrate 8 is encased in the upper frameworksegment 2 and lower framework segment 4 or is solely encased in lowersegment 4. Referring back to FIG. 1, the substrate 8 serves as both amedium to support the seed and seedling, as well as performing a wickingfunction via capillary action. The substrate 8 can be made of one or acombination of various hydroponic substrates and may be enriched withnutrients. The support frame 1 can be a plastic or metal tube. Thesupport frame 1 has a top retainer ring 3 formed as flange 6 at theupper, outer terminal end, which serves the purpose of holding thebottle insert 7 in place at the top, mouth or neck of the container orbottle.

The lower open segment 4 is composed of vertical legs 5 and open slitsor apertures 11. There are typically 3-4 vertical legs 5 in a bottleinsert 7. The lower open frame segments 4 allow the roots 10 of theplant 26 to grow through and out of the bottle insert 7 and into thecavity of the bottle. Alternative embodiments may include a pin or smallrod passing through the substrate 8 and residing in a similar locationas the flange 6 shown in the preferred embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the bottle insert 7 is shown inserted into a bottle 24. FIG.2 is a cross-section of the bottle insert 7 from the perspective ofsection line A′ to A″. The bottle insert 7 is held in the bottle neck 21by the flange 6 of the top retainer ring 3 resting on the bottle lip.The bottle insert 7 extends down into the bottle 24 typically extendingbeyond the bottle shoulders 22 and into the bottle body cavity 23. Thisallows the lower portion of the bottle 24 to be filled with water, thusproviding water for the plant 26 in the bottle insert 7. The roots 10grow out of the bottle insert 7 through the slits or apertures 11. Thesubstrate 8 creates a capillary action wicking the water up to the plant26.

As shown in FIG. 2, when seeds or seedlings are placed in the substrate8 of the self watering bottle insert 7 and it is inserted into a bottle24 with water in it, the seed is kept moist via the capillary action ofthe substrate 8. The substrate 8 is kept moist because its bottom end isin communication with the water below. As the seedling grows, its roots10 extend downward through the substrate 8 toward the water or nutrientsolution below. The roots 10 of the small plant 26 will soon outgrow thesubstrate 8 itself and protrude from the bottle insert 7 via the slits11 or channels. Accordingly, plants 26 are able to grow uninhibited intothe bottle 24. At the same time as the roots are extending down into thebottle 24, the small seedling grows toward its light source, which iscommonly upward.

The self watering bottle insert 7 may be used in any common householdbottles 24, such as empty glass bottles 24. In 2013 Americans generated254 million tons of trash. Reuse of common bottles 24 as planters wouldhelp reduce trash. Optionally, the self watering bottle insert 7 mayutilize a specially made vessel or container for the purpose of holdingwater or nutrient solution. The self watering bottle insert 7 planteruses a bottle 24 or container that might have otherwise been thrownaway. In one embodiment, a glass wine bottle 24 is used as a containerof vessel for holding the water or nutrient solution. Wine bottles 24are often green or brown and are particularly well suited for thefunction of container or reservoir owing to their light filteringproperties. Tinted or colored materials block colors other than theirown. For example when one looks through rose colored glasses the worldappears pink; owing to the fact that blue, green and yellow light hasbeen blocked from passing. Similarly, a green or brown wine bottle willonly allow the green or brown spectrum of light to pass through.

Although plants and algae are capable of using the full spectrum oflight for the purpose of photosynthesis, they derive most of their lightenergy from the blue and red frequencies of light. This is whyhydroponic grow lights often appear pink/purple in color. The greenlight which will pass through a green bottle 24 is largely unusable tothe algae which might otherwise form were a clear bottle 24 to be used.Since green light is largely invisible to plants and algae their growthcan be inhibited. Thus, use of a green or brown bottle 24 will inhibitalgae growth.

In an alternate embodiment, the support frame 1 may be eliminated. Thesuspension of the substrate 8 or growing medium could also be achievedvia a simple flange 6 at the top of the bottle, some pins or small rodspassing through the substrate 8, or even by simply relying on frictionvia a snug fit within the neck 21 of the bottle.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the bottle insert. The top retainer ring 3 isshown. The center of the top retainer ring 3 is open, so that the plantcan grow out of the bottle insert 7 and out of the bottle 24. FIG. 4 isa side view of the bottle insert 7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4,the bottle insert 7 is comprised of an upper open frame segment 33 and alower open frame segment 4. Between the vertical legs 5 are open slitsor apertures 11. As shown, the support frame 1 may then comprisealternating vertical legs 5 and open slits or apertures 11 forming acircumferential surface, at places. A circumferential width of the openslits or apertures 11 may then be larger than a circumferential width ofeach of the vertical legs in the support frame 1. A lateral cross framemember 31 serves to add support to the vertical legs 5. The top retainerring 3 also serves to support the bottle insert 7.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of the bottle insert from the perspectiveof section line B′ to B″. The top of the vertical legs 5 are shown. Asshown in FIG. 4, this bottle insert 7 has vertical legs 5 that extendthe entire length of the bottle insert 7. Returning to FIG. 5, thebottle lip 41 is outside the vertical legs 5. The base arms 43 can beseen at the bottom of the bottle insert 7. The base arms 43 createapertures 47 for the roots to grow through. The base 9 couples theterminal portions of the vertical legs 5 and prevents the substrate fromfalling out of the open framework 33 and 4 of vertical legs 5.Preferably, base 9 is located at the bottommost ends of the openframework. However, the base may be located near, but not at, theterminal, bottommost ends of the framework.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the bottle insert 7. Thebottle insert 7 has an upper open frame segment 33 that contains a firstplant substrate 50. There is a lower open frame segment 4 that containsa second plant substrate 53. The first plant substrate 50 has minimalorganic nutrients. The first plant substrate 50 has moderate wicking towet soil surface. The second plant substrate 53 releases hydroponicnutrients into the water. The second plant substrate 53 has strongwicking capacity. In this embodiment, there are also multipleintermediate lateral cross frame members 31.

The substrate 8, 50 and 53 may be hydroponic growth medium composed ofone more of the following: rock wool, perlite, vermiculite, commonpotting mix, sphagnum peat moss, pine bark, a combinatory amalgamationof peat moss and pine bark. In the preferred embodiment, the first plantsubstrate 50 is a stabilized mixture of organics, such as sphagnum peatmoss, pine bark. By way of example, the first plant substrate 50 can beORIGINAL FORMULA™ by International Horticultural Technologies. In thepreferred embodiment, the second plant substrate 53 is a stabilizedspagnum peat moss plug that is enriched with nutrients. By way ofexample, the second plant substrate 53 can be G-MIX™ by InternationalHorticultural Technologies, which is enriched by soaking it in nutrientsolution and dried. A wide variety of nutrients can be used to enrichthe substrate 8, including but not limited to, inorganic hydroponicnutrients, organic hydroponic nutrients and pH buffers.

When the self watering bottle insert 7 planter includes substrates 8enriched with nutrients, a single plant 26 can be grown hydroponicallywithout the use of external nutrients for the life of a plant 26. Wheninserted in a water reservoir or bottle filled with water, these highlyleachable nutrient salts (>90% leach), dissolve into the water to createhydroponic nutrient solution. These nutrients can support a plant forits life cycle.

FIG. 7 is a close up, cut away view of the upper portion of the bottleinsert 7 in a bottle 24. At the top of the bottle neck 21 is the bottlelip 41. The vertical legs 5 of the bottle insert 7 are seated inside thebottle neck 21. The flange 6 of the retainer ring 3 holds the bottleinsert 7 on the bottle 24 and prevents the bottle insert 7 from droppingall the way into the bottle 24. The flange 6 rests on the bottle lip 41.The bottle insert 7 has a form factor adapted to fit within a bottleneck 21 having an inner diameter no larger than 22 mm and no smallerthan 18 mm. The support frame has a length no greater than 130 mm. Theflange 6 diameter is about 25 mm and the flange 6 depth is about 6 mm.The dimensions of the bottle insert are intended to allow the bottleinsert to fit in about 90% of all wine or long bore bottles.

FIG. 8 is a top cross-section view of an alternate embodiment of theretainer ring from the perspective of section line C′ to C″. Thisretainer ring 3 contains multiple arms 43 each ending in a retainerflange 45 for securing the bottle insert 7 onto the bottle 24 andpreventing the bottle insert 7 from falling into the bottle 24. Theretainer arms 43 are attached in the center to a ring that leaves anaperture 48 for the plant 26 to grow through.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are a series of drawings showing a self wateringbottle insert inside a bottle and the growth cycle of a plant. FIG. 9 isa side view of the bottle insert placed in a bottle with a full waterlevel 61. This is the beginning time period T1. The water level in thebottle 24 is at a high level 61. The self watering bottle insert 7contains stabilized smart soil or substrate 8. The substrate 8 containsa seed or seeds. These seeds can be put in by the purchaser orpre-planted by the distributor of the self watering bottle insert 7. Thewater 62 in the bottle 24 is absorbed by the substrate 8. The absorptionof the water 62 into the substrate 8 dissolves the nutrients out of thesubstrate 8 and leaches the nutrients into the water 62. The nutrientwater 62 then provides nutrients to the plant or seeds.

In FIG. 10, shows a bottle 24 with a moderate water level 63. FIG. 10 isa side view of the bottle insert 7 placed in a bottle 24 with a moderatewater level 63. This is the middle time period T2 and represents thebeginning growth of the plant 26. The capillary action of the substrate8 has drawn water 62 into the roots 10. The water level in the bottle 24is at a moderate level 63. FIG. 11 is a side view of the bottle insert 7placed in a bottle 24 with a low water level 65. This is the end timeperiod T3 and represents the last growth stage of the plant 26. Theroots 10 have now grown to reach directly into the water 62. The greenor brown colored glass of the bottle 24 blocks harmful red and bluelight, thus preventing algae growth. During time period T3 as shown inFIG. 11, the water may be re-filled as often as necessary to keep theroots below the water level 65.

Alternate embodiments can include various other substrates 8. Othersubstrates 8 might include common hydroponic grow-mediums such as rockwool, perlite, vermiculite or any one of a number of other materials.Common potting mix could also be an option. The main considerations arethat the substrate 8 be suitable for supporting the seed and youngplant, and that it not fall inside the bottle when wet. The ability towick water up is desirable, but not essential. Alternate embodimentscould also include nutrients being added directly to the water asopposed to being in the substrate.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changeswithin the scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A bottle planter comprising: an elongated insert for inserting into aneck of a bottle, the insert comprising a housing; a plurality ofsubstrates within the housing, wherein a first of the plurality ofsubstrates is different than a second of the plurality of substrates;wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are arrangedconsecutively along a length of the elongated insert such that thesecond substrate is lower than the first substrate when the elongatedinsert is inserted into a neck of a bottle.
 2. The bottle planter ofclaim 1, wherein the housing of the insert comprises at least onevertical aperture such that the first and second substrates are exposedto an interior of the bottle through the at least one vertical aperture.3. The bottle planter of claim 1, wherein the second substrate includesa plant nutrient not contained in the first substrate.
 4. The bottleplanter of claim 3, wherein the plant nutrient is dissolvable such thatthe plant nutrient dissolves into a fluid in the bottle when theelongated insert is inserted into the neck of a bottle.
 5. The bottleplanter of claim 3, wherein the second substrate further comprises pHbuffers not contained in the first substrate.
 6. The bottle planter ofclaim 3, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are formedfrom different materials, and wherein the material forming the secondsubstrate has a higher capillary draw than the material forming thefirst substrate.
 7. The bottle planter of claim 6, wherein, wheninserted into the neck of a partially filled bottle, the secondsubstrate is at least partially submerged in the fluid, and the firstsubstrate is separated from the fluid, such that fluid is received atthe first substrate by way of capillary action from the secondsubstrate.
 8. The bottle planter of claim 7, wherein the housing of theinsert comprises at least one vertical aperture such that the secondsubstrate is exposed to an interior of the bottle through the at leastone vertical aperture, and where the at least one vertical aperture isprovided only on a bottom portion of the housing.
 9. The bottle planterassembly of claim 6, wherein the first substrate has a tree bark baseand the second substrate has a peat moss base.
 10. The bottle planter ofclaim 3, wherein the first substrate is seeded and the second substrateis unseeded.
 11. A planter assembly comprising: a first substrate forsupporting hydroponic planting of seeds; a second substrate differentthan the first substrate; wherein the first and second substrate arecombined in an elongated plug such that the first and second substrateare arranged consecutively along a length of the plug.
 12. The planterassembly of claim 11, wherein the second substrate includes a plantnutrient not contained in the first substrate.
 13. The planter assemblyof claim 12, wherein the plant nutrient is dissolvable such that theplant nutrient dissolves into a fluid when the elongated plug isinserted into a fluid.
 14. The planter assembly of claim 12, wherein thesecond substrate further comprises pH buffers not contained in the firstsubstrate.
 15. The planter assembly of claim 12, wherein the firstsubstrate and the second substrate are formed from different materials,and wherein the material forming the second substrate has a highercapillary draw than the material forming the first substrate.
 16. Theplanter assembly of claim 15, wherein, when inserted into a fluid duringuse, the second substrate is at least partially submerged in the fluid,and the first substrate is separated from the fluid, such that fluid isreceived at the first substrate by way of capillary action from thesecond substrate.
 17. The planter assembly of claim 16 furthercomprising an elongated housing encasing the first and secondsubstrates, and wherein the housing comprises at least one verticalaperture such that the second substrate is exposed to the fluid throughthe at least one vertical aperture, and where the at least one verticalaperture is provided only at a bottom portion of the housing.
 18. Theplanter assembly of claim 15, wherein the first substrate has a treebark base and the second substrate has a peat moss base.
 19. The planterassembly of claim 12, wherein the first substrate is seeded and thesecond substrate is unseeded.